The Foundations of Hee Seo’s Ballet Journey

 

Seo curtain call for The Moor's Pavane on 8 November 2013

When Hee Seo was young, she was surrounded by her mother, grandmother, and aunt, who all studied fine arts and are involved in the artistic industry. At a young age, Hee Seo and her brother grew up in an  artistic environment and were inspired by the people around them. They began learning piano and swimming as a hobby. In middle school, she was the class president and was offered a chance to participate in an entrance competition for SunHwa Academy. At that time, she had been learning ballet for only 6 months, and 12 years old is a relatively late start to learn ballet. She did not give up because of age, letting her passion guide her through the journey.

 Hee Seo (Age 16): Paquita Variation - Youth Grand Prix 2003

Hee Seo (ABT): Sleeping Beauty Variation, YAGP 2002 (Age 15)

The efforts she put in guided her to win her first full scholarship to study at Sunhwa Academy. Then, she has the opportunity to have professional training in the United States. At the age of 13, she was awarded a 3-year full scholarship to study abroad in the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. Under her life mentor —Alla Sizova’s training, she  grew up with better skills and techniques to participate in another competition in 2003 , the Prix de Lausanne, which led her to the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany and was trained in the John Cranko Ballet Academy in Germany. Finally, at the Youth American Grand Prix, she was offered a position with ABT's Studio Company and joined АВТ shortly after.

Academy, Kirov. “Alumni Hee Seo - Kirov Academy of Washington D.C.” Kirov Academy of Washington D.C., 3 June 2020, kirovacademydc.org/alumni/alumni-spotlight/alumni-hee-seo/ . Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Kourlas, Gia. “Hee Seo, American Ballet Theater Principal.” The New York Times, 3 May 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/05/05/arts/dance/hee-seo-american-ballet-theater-principal.html.

Rubin, Hanna. “Why ABT Principal Hee Seo Loves the Art of Giving Back.” Pointe Magazine, 15 Apr. 2019, pointemagazine.com/hee-seo-abt/#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Se-jeong, Kim. “Ballerina Seo Hee Marks 20 Years at ABT, Gives back to Young Dancers in Korea.” Koreatimes.co.kr, The Korea Times, 22 Aug. 2025, www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/people-events/20250822/ballerina-seo-hee-marks-20-years-at-abt-gives-back-to-young-dancers-in-korea. Accessed 28 Sept. 2025.

Wendy Perron. DanceMedia "Dance Magazine, Vol. 87, no. 5, "May, 2013." , Alexander Street,  2013. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cbibliographic_details%7C3909719.  Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Rubin, Hanna. “ABT's Homegrown Ballerinas: Isabella Boylston, Hee Seo and Sarah Lane

.” Pointe Magazine, May 31, 2015, https://pointemagazine.com/abt-ballerinas-boylston-lane-seo/#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.